ISLAMABAD, February 11, 2014: Sindh Assembly consumed 53 percent of the sitting time by discussing the provision of low quality education in the province during the fifth sitting of the 11^th Session on Tuesday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

One PML-F female legislator and one MQM MPA submitted two similar adjournment motions regarding the provision of low quality education in the province. Fourteen legislators – five from PPPP, followed by MQM 4, PML-F and PTI two each and PML one – participated in the debate.

Three private bills, five resolutions, five private motions and one privilege motion on Order of the Day were not taken up. MQM lawmakers observed a token walkout for four minutes over alleged victimization of its workers by Sindh police.

Following are some key observations of the proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:

• Sindh Assembly met for three hours and 45 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1100 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours witnessing a delay of an hour.
• The Speaker presided over the sitting for two hours and five minutes while Deputy Speaker chaired the rest of the proceedings.
• Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the proceedings.
• The Parliamentary leaders of PML-N, PTI, MQM and PML-FI were present.
• Forty-four members were present at the outset while 55 at the adjournment of the sitting. A maximum of 76 members were observed to be present at one point during the sitting.
• Five minority members attended the sitting.
• Three members applied for leave.

 Representation and Responsiveness

• Fourteen legislators participated in the debate on adjournment motions regarding provision of low quality education in the province.
• Five MPAs from PPPP, followed by MQM 4, PML-F and PTI two each and PML one took part in the debate.
• All six starred questions (requiring oral as well as written reply) were taken up while members also asked 35 supplementary questions.

Order and Institutionalization

• Legislators raised two points of order which consumed 15 minutes of the proceedings.

• MQM observed a token walkout for four minutes over alleged victimization of its workers by Sindh police in the province.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Information on members’ attendance was available to observers and the public.

 

The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Sindh Assembly proceedings conducted by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), a member organization of FAFEN